Pasta and Beef 'Goulash'

Years ago when I mentioned to my husband that I planned to make goulash for dinner, he thought I was making stew. Instead, I put a very American casserole on the table. The conversation that followed went something like this:

"What's this?"

"It's goulash."

"No...no, it isn't. It's like a homemade version of, I don't know, Hamburger Helper*."

Ah, culinary misunderstandings. As long as they don't involve an allergen that could kill me, they're usually funny and often enlightening. In the case of our goulash misunderstanding, Greg assumed I would be making the classic Hungarian stew and had never heard the macaroni and beef casserole I made referred to as goulash. I'm still not sure why the pasta and beef casserole I made is referred to as goulash. At first I thought it was a regional reference; however, I've met people from all over the country that call this casserole goulash.

No matter what you call it, this is a recipe for easy comfort food. Simply combine cooked gluten-free pasta (I like to use elbow macaroni but anything works) with cooked ground beef and tomato sauce. Top the whole thing with a little grated cheddar and in about 20 minutes, dinner is ready.

One little warning for the recipe, don't overcook the pasta. Gluten-free pasta turns mushy when overcooked. To avoid this, check the pasta while it cooks. You want it to be a bit firm when you add it to the sauce. It finishes cooking in the oven. And, like most pasta dishes, this recipe welcomes creativity. Add some additional chopped vegetables and cook them along with the onions and garlic or swap the Cheddar for a different cheese. However you make it, you'll end up with a casserole that's delicious but definitely not a stew. Just ask my husband.

Procedures

1

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Lightly spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish (or a large oven-proof dish) with nonstick cooking spray.

2

Fill a large pot three-quarters full with water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Set a colander in the sink for draining the pasta. When the water reaches a boil, add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta. Stir with a wooden spoon for about 30 seconds, then stir occasionally while the pasta cooks.

3

In a large nonstick frying pan, heat the oil over high heat until hot and shimmering but not smoking. Add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the onion is soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft and aromatic.

4

Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up the clumps with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, until thoroughly cooked and browned, about four minutes. If desired, remove and discard any excess fat.

5

Stir three-quarters of the tomato sauce into the beef. Lower the heat to low. (This is a good time to check the pasta if you haven’t already.)

6

After about 10 minutes of boiling, check the pasta for doneness. Drain the pasta in the colander and return it to the cooking pot.

7

Add the meat sauce to the pasta and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining tomato sauce and sprinkle evenly with the cheese.

8

Bake until the cheese is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, about 15 minutes.

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About the Author

Despite being born with life-threatening food-allergies, Elizabeth graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. Today Elizabeth develops delicious and creative recipes for the food allergic and gluten-free communities through her site GlutenFreeBaking.com, cooking classes, and regular radio and television appearances. She is the author of two cookbooks: Easy Gluten-Free Baking andHow to Cook Gluten-Free. And the host of the Cook Bliss podcast

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